Page 24 - Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2024

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PRESBYTERIAN
SPRING 2024
presbyterian.ca
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
Update: Gaza Response
By Stephanie Chunoo,, PWS&D Communications
Persistent airstrikes over Gaza have demolished buildings, left tens of thousands of casualties and given rise to a staggering number of displaced individuals.
Amid so much loss, PWS&D is supporting the Middle East Coun- cil of Churches’ Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR). DSPR continues to stand witness to the devastation and mourn the destruction. Tragically, one dedicated DSPR staff mem- ber and her family were also lost to the violence.
The humanitarian crisis that is unfolding is unacceptable on so many levels. The lack of access to Gaza due to border controls makes humanitarian assistance very dif- ficult. Yet, despite the challenges, the dedicated staff members of DSPR continue to respond, when- ever possible, to the urgent needs of the people in Gaza.
The constant explosions, ac- companied by the distressing scenes of the wounded and dead, have the potential to prompt last- ing trauma. In the south of the Gaza Strip, DSPR staff are work- ing with forcibly displaced people to reduce these experiences by providing psychosocial interven- tions. Additionally, staff members are delivering psychological first- aid training, equipping individuals with essential tools to provide as- sistance and alleviate panic dur- ing emergencies.
Since access to water has been limited, hygiene kits are being dis- tributed to aid cleanliness, curb the spread of communicable dis- eases, and ensure vital resources reach those in need. Furthermore, cash distributions to households are providing direct financial as- sistance to individuals deemed most in need.
For tunately, some are still able to access primary health-care services—including access to
vital medications—through the DSPR-NECC Rafah Clinic. While not nearly sufficient to the need, the clinic helps ensure some health services remain within reach during these challeng- ing times. Individuals who have sought shelter in two churches are also receiving necessary suppor t, such as food and some basic supplies.
Overwhelming need
While the glimmer of hope provid- ed by DSPR in Gaza is significant, the need for aid remains critical. The ongoing war continues to in- flict extensive damage to human life, infrastructure and homes, de- priving communities of essentials such as water, medical supplies and food.
Your support has already made so much possible, but the needs grow with each passing day. To learn more or make a donation, visit WeRespond.ca/crisis-in-Gaza.
DSPR, an ACT Alliance member, provides psychosocial and play-based sup- port to children displaced by the war in Gaza. PHOTO CREDIT: MAHMOD ELBARA- GETHI/DSPR.
Though most of DSPR’s clinics have been bombed to the ground, individuals in need of primary health-care services can access support offered by the DSPR- NECC Rafah Clinic. PHOTO CREDIT: MAHMOD ELBARAGETHI/DSPR.
Guljan and her eldest son stand before the tent provided to them after losing their home.
Challenges Persist in Afghanistan
Guljan lost her husband and 11-year-old son in the earthquake that struck her community in Octo- ber 2023.
By PWS&D Communications
In the Kushkak village in Afghani- stan, 42-year-old Guljan lived a simple life with her husband and their four children, including her daughter-in-law. In recent years, her husband grappled with debili- tating leg pain, rendering him un- able to work and placing the bur- den of financial support on Guljan and her sons. Despite facing eco- nomic hardships and managing household responsibilities, Guljan displayed unwavering determina- tion to find a way to provide for her family.
On what seemed to be a typical
day in October 2023, Guljan was away from home, seeking medi- cal attention for her six-year-old daughter when she heard news about an earthquake striking her home district. Hurrying back to her village, she encountered a sight of complete devastation. The once familiar landscape was transformed into debris.
Heartbreakingly, the earth- quake had claimed the lives of her husband and 11-year-old son, both trapped inside the house during the disaster.
Post-earthquake challenges
After her husband’s passing, Gul- jan assumed the role of decision- maker for her family, taking on responsibilities that were once his. Now a female-headed house- hold, she encountered significant challenges in obtaining assis- tance. Observing the disparity in opportunities, she noted that re- strictions placed on women exac- erbated their difficulties in partici- pating in assessments compared to their male counterparts in the community.
However, after PWS&D’s local
partner recognized their needs, Guljan’s family received a winter- ized tent to help them endure the harsh weather conditions. “In a timely intervention, [the partner] came to our aid, providing my family with a new tent, which we promptly set up,” she shares.
Still, Guljan has voiced a grow- ing concern about her family’s lack of security and privacy under the tents. The communal living arrangement presented obstacles for the women in particular. Car- rying out daily washings became a difficult task due to the lack of privacy caused by the cramped conditions of the tents, expos- ing their activities to onlookers. Likewise, the shared nature of the makeshift bathroom facilities intensified the discomfort.
As winter approached, Guljan’s anxiety only increased. The village where they were temporarily set- tled was in the middle of a treeless deser t landscape, prone to fierce, relentless winds. Two intense dust storms after the earthquake rein- forced the difficult weather condi- tions the family faces. Additionally, with a new grandchild on the way,
Guljan is concerned about how the baby, and the rest of the fam- ily, will be able to find shelter and food to survive.
Food security crisis
An estimated 28.3 million Afghans (two-thirds of the population) need humanitarian assistance. The crisis is being driven by three consecutive years of drought-like conditions, crippling economic decline since the Taliban takeover in 2021, and decades of conflict and recurrent natural disasters.
As a result, Afghanistan is among the countries facing the highest levels of food insecurity in the world. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Hu- manitarian Affairs, 15.8 million people are projected to be food insecure in 2024.
In June 2023, the Govern- ment of Canada passed Bill C-41, which provides exemptions for
humanitarian-focused aid spend- ing in Afghanistan. With match- ing funds at Canadian Foodgrains Bank, PWS&D implemented a $1 million food assistance project in Bamiyan province, assisting 4,550 of the most marginalized households. Families received monthly cash assistance over a three-month period, enabling them to buy essential food items to get through the most difficult part of the year.
Your support is vital to ensure that emergency assistance and essential resources reach fami- lies like Guljan’s after devastating disasters and ongoing food inse- curity. PWS&D hopes to expand our response in Afghanistan to alleviate hunger for more fami- lies—your prayers and financial gifts will make a real difference to people’s lives. Visit WeRespond. ca/where_we_work/Afghanistan to learn more or to donate.